3D Scanning on Your Desktop: 5 Exciting Examples

3D printing has been in the news pretty steadily for the last couple years. 3D scanning is about to make some waves.

With new 3D printers and 3d printing services popping up every day, it was only a matter of time before 3D scanning would get some attention. Previously it was very expensive and generally only used in industrial applications or high-end video production studios. Now, it is getting the desktop treatment, just as 3D printing did. In the near future, you could simply walk into your office and "photocopy" a sculpture just as easily as you could a piece of paper.

I've listed the price, dimensional accuracy, and scan volume for each of the 3D scanners listed below. You should note however, that each manufacturer could use terms differently. You'll see "resolution," "scan quality," and "detail" listed in some of their documentation. I've tried my best to find measurements that can be compared across the board.

1. MakerBot Digitizer

Scan volume: 8in x 8in

Dimensional accuracy: ± 2.0mm [± 0.079in]

Price: $1,400

The MakerBot Digitizer was recently announced, bringing some considerable attention to desktop 3D scanning. The unit allows for you to place an object on a rotating table and let the scanner do the rest of the work. What really stands out about the MakerBot Digitizer is the software that comes with it. Makerware is fairly intuitive and allows you to modify and clean the object after it has been scanned.

2. Dimbody

Scan volume: 12in x 12in

Dimensional accuracy: ±0.1mm on highest setting, ±0.4mm on lowest

Price: roughly $1,400

While the Dimbody may shave a shape similar to the MakerBot Digitizer, it appears to push each specification just a little bit further. It has a larger scan platform and higher-resolution camera. The dimensional accuracy really stands out here, being ±0.1mm compared to the Makerbot's ±2mm. It is roughly the same price as well, depending on where you fall on the Kickstarter funding.